In brief: CQRC urges caution, ASAA rebrands, Dr. Oz turns 65

WASHINGTON – While it commends the Trump Administration for finalizing a National Coverage Determination (NCD) for “Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) in the Home for the Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure consequent to COPD,” the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is concerned about its quick implementation and potential access issues. 

The effective date of the final NCD is the date of publication, but the CQRC continues to urge CMS to provide an implementation glidepath of at least 12 months. This timing would allow the agency, professional societies and other stakeholders to educate the community about the changes in the coverage policy without risking patient access to these devices.  

The final NCD was published June 9.  

Removing barriers 

The CQRC notes that in the final memo outlining the NCD policy, CMS adopts several modifications to remove barriers to patients in need of respiratory assist devices (RADs) and home mechanical ventilators (HMV), including: 

• Clarifying that the new policies will not apply to patients who already rely on RADs or HMVs to ensure continuity of care. 
• Aligning the final NCD coverage adherence goal for NIV devices to be at least four hours per 24-hour period on at least 70% of days within the specified time periods in the NCD, consistent with clinical practice. 
• Clarifying the reassessment period to reduce burden on patients, physicians, and suppliers. 
• Expressly stating that the NCD policy should not be used as a justification for step-therapy that could force patients onto a device that a physician knows is not appropriate for that patient. 
• Allowing patients when discharged to continue using the same type of device that they were prescribed during their hospitalization.  
• Expanding the clinical criteria to support continued use of a RAD or HMV to include stabilization of their condition and improvements in sleep quality. 

Clarification to arterial blood gas requirement 

While CQRC is disappointed that CMS maintained that an invasive and painful arterial blood gas (ABG) is the only test permitted to initiate therapy (which is at odds with the recommendations of the American Thoracic Society guidelines), it is pleased that the final memo clarifies that an ABG is not required for re-certification of patient’s medical necessity. The NCD notes that Medicare contractors may also accept other test results at their discretion. Allowing for other testing options will be especially important for patients in rural and medically underserved areas who may not have access to the specialized facilities where ABGs must be performed. 

Gap in treatment 

Unfortunately, the final memo does not provide criteria to support access for patients diagnosed with hypercapnia with test results that aligned with the ATS guidelines for diagnosis of the disease, but that are lower than the thresholds outlined in the NCD. The CQRC looks forward to working with CMS to find ways to address this gap in treatment so that these patients are not left behind. 

• Related: Stakeholders see hurdles, burdens in proposed decision on vents 

American Sleep Apnea Association rebrands  

WASHINGTON – The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) has rebranded as the Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network (WSCN). 

WSCN will build upon the 35-year-old ASAA's legacy of advocacy, education, research and support for people with sleep apnea, while expanding its reach to address the growing global demand for guidance around whole-day health.  

The organization says it is redefining what it means to live well and make every moment count, acknowledging that life happens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

"When we were building out our new direction, the concern was that no one knows what circadian means,” said Dr. Anne Marie Morse, chair of the board of directors for WSCN and a nationally recognized leader in sleep and circadian medicine. “My response? Exactly. That's our purpose. Share the words to what we experience across all 24 hours."  

Existing programs like the AWAKE Peer Mentor Program, CPAP Assistance Program and Patient Leadership in Research (PLIR) will remain pillars of support. These are now complemented by: 

• Expanded resources on circadian health, helping individuals better understand their internal body clocks 
• A more integrated approach to health and wellness, connecting sleep with mental, emotional, and physical performance 
• A global community movement, uniting patients, researchers, clinicians, and advocates around the power of 24-hour health. 

Greatorex joins DwellSafe 

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jim Greatorex has joined DwellSafe, a virtual home safety platform, as a strategic adviser. A longtime industry leader and former vice president of VGM Live at Home, Greatorex brings more than 30 years of experience in home safety, accessibility and care-centered innovation, the company says. “Jim has played a key role in shaping the home access space and pushing it forward,” said Jonathan Hills, co-founder of DwellSafe. “He knows where the system falls short—and where it needs to go. We’re aligned in building something better, grounded in clinical insight, technology and trust.” At VGM Live at Home, Greatorex helped grow one of the largest national networks of home accessibility providers and vendors. He now brings that same strategic vision to DwellSafe, supporting the company’s partner growth, product development, and referral ecosystem. “I’ve spent my career advocating for safer, more accessible homes,” said Greatorex. “DwellSafe represents a fresh, intelligent approach to the challenges we’ve been talking about for years—one that’s rooted in both clinical credibility and practical implementation. I’m excited to help shape what’s next.”  

Lifeway Mobility opens third Ohio location 

CLEVELAND – Lifeway Mobility has a new location in Cincinnati, its third in Ohio. Initially, it will serve the Ohio and Indiana portion of the Cincinnati metro area, eventually expanding coverage into northern Kentucky. The new location will offer stair lifts, wheelchair ramps and lifts, transfer aids and bathroom safety solutions. “We’re excited about being able to serve Cincinnati and provide the local community with high-quality accessibility solutions and an outstanding customer experience,” said Jeff Byrd, general manager at Lifeway Mobility. "This expands our coverage in the state of Ohio and in the very near future, we’ll be able to extend our offerings and expertise across the river into northern Kentucky.” Lifeway Mobility also has locations in Columbus and Cleveland. 

Motion Composites hits ‘milestone’ with new facility 

QUEBEC CITY – Motion Composites has officially opened its new U.S. assembly facility in Plattsburgh, N.Y. This strategic move reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to its U.S. customers and end-users by providing U.S.- assembled wheelchairs to the American market, it says. The Plattsburgh site allows the company to assemble key product lines closer to its U.S. partners—simplifying logistics while maintaining the same high design and performance standards that define the brand. “This isn’t just a new building, it’s a new chapter,” said Eric Simoneau, CEO of Motion Composites. “It reflects our long-term vision for the U.S. market. In a world that’s constantly evolving, this is a smart, forward-looking step, one that helps us navigate future uncertainties, seize opportunities, and fuel continued growth, all while empowering people through mobility.” Assembly operations in Plattsburgh currently include select wheelchair models, with plans to gradually ramp up production as the facility scales. Every wheelchair assembled in Plattsburgh is built to the same rigorous quality and engineering standards upheld at the company’s Canadian headquarters, the company says. “This is an important operational milestone,” said David Sicotte, vice president of operations. “It enhances our ability to scale efficiently while remaining laser-focused on product quality and operational excellence.” 

Respiratory leaders develop white paper 

WASHINGTON – Leaders from AAHomecare’s Ventilator Work Group and HME/RT Council have developed a new educational resource that explains the differences between the two types of breathing support devices used at home. Choosing the Right Respiratory Support: Ventilators or RADs provides a comprehensive look at the different use cases, features and technologies for home mechanical ventilators (HMV) and respiratory assist devices (RAD), the association says. This white paper spotlights why patients with severe respiratory conditions require the advanced capabilities of an HMV – and how using a RAD when an HMV is needed can pose serious risks to patient health and safety. “I would like to thank the Ventilator Workgroup for their hours of collaboration putting together a resource on these devices for AAHomecare members,” said Roxanne Vernard, president of Ascent Respiratory Care and Chair of the HME/RT Council. “The white paper will make a great educational piece for referral sources, insurance groups and policymakers. The paper is also a great conversation starter on the important difference between RAD and HMV for current referral sources.” The release of the white paper follows the release of CMS’s final national coverage determination (NCD) for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the home for the treatment of chronic respiratory failure consequent to COPD.   

Norco Medical joins AAHomecare 

WASHINGTON – Norco Medical has joined AAHomecare as a bronze level Corporate Partner. With 80 locations across seven states in the Pacific and Intermountain West and more than 75 years of experience supporting patients, Norco’s involvement in AAHomecare will bolster advocacy and policy development efforts for the industry, says the association. “Over the years, we have been committed to a pursuit of excellence in the Northwest, knowing that our employees, our partners, our communities and our customers are the key to success,” said Troy Johnson, Norco Medical executive vice president. “In the ever-changing HME business, we recognize the need has never been greater to unify our voices at the root of where public policy and reimbursement is established. We are pleased to be part of this effort in a partnership with AAHomecare and the members who are advocating for our industry.” 

Notable Systems beefs up exec team 

DENVER – Notable Systems has expanded its executive team. Brian Nannie, former chief data officer at Lincare, joins as senior vice president of client strategy & innovation; and Gaurav Nukala, former head of product operations at Innovaccer, joins as senior vice president of product. These strategic hires strengthen Notable System's leadership team with deep expertise in DME, HME and health care revenue cycle management, the company says. Nannie brings more than a decade of executive leadership experience in health care revenue cycle management, data analytics and AI implementation. In his new position, he will drive strategic initiatives to accelerate company growth through innovation and enhanced client solutions, and will serve as Notable Systems' strategic bridge between client needs and future product development, working closely with product and engineering teams to shape strategy based on market insights and client requirements. Nukala, who previously served as an engineer at Apple and Google and held product leadership roles at successful startups, will lead Notable Systems' product strategy. He has demonstrated success in scaling B2B enterprise platforms to more than $100M in annual recurring revenue and implementing AI solutions that delivered significant operational improvements across health care and financial technology sectors. 

• Related: Notable Systems, flush with $12M in new funding, moves beyond order intake 

Dr. Oz launches Medicare enrollment series 

WASHINGTON – CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, who turns 65 today, is using his own Medicare enrollment experience to help Americans better understand how to sign up for Medicare and select the coverage that best fits their needs. Through a new video and social media series, Dr. Oz is walking future enrollees through simple steps they can take to get started—beginning with Medicare.gov. “Millions of Americans become eligible for Medicare each year, and this year, I’m one of them,” said Oz. “The good news is, Medicare.gov makes it easy to get started, whether you’re signing up for the first time or exploring options. Everyone’s situation is different, but the most important thing you can do is get informed early and make the choices that are right for you and your family.” Dr. Oz’s public service messages highlight key reminders for those approaching Medicare eligibility: 

• Start early to learn about options. 
• Enrollment paths may vary depending on whether someone is already receiving Social Security benefits or whether you are still working and have employer coverage. 
• Use Medicare.gov to get clear, personalized guidance on enrollment and coverage. 

SOS promotes Newby to president 

HOUSTON – Strategic Office Support (SOS), a provider of end-to-end DME staffing and RCM solutions, has promoted Sarah Newby to president. Formerly the company’s sales and marketing director, Newby has been a driving force behind SOS’s growth and brand leadership, the company says. As president, she will lead strategic initiatives across departments, guide the teams responsible for service delivery and continue to drive SOS’s market expansion. “Sarah’s leadership has helped take SOS to the next level,” said Steve Cela, founder and CEO. “This new structure strengthens our ability to scale without compromising the high-touch service our clients expect. I’ll continue as CEO and remain fully engaged in our next stage of growth.” SOS is also proud to announce the following promotions: Maria Carvajal has been named implementation manager and Kristin Coste has been named client success manager. These changes reflect SOS’s commitment to investing in its team and building a foundation for long-term growth, says Newby. “We’re aligning our structure with our ambition,” she said. “These shifts help us deepen client partnerships and continue delivering best-in-class outsourced solutions for DME providers.” 

• Related: SOS expands in Philippines 

Shelgikar named president of AASM board 

DARIEN, Ill. – Dr. Anita Shelgikar has been named the 40th president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine board of directors. Shelgikar took the helm of the nation’s leading sleep medicine professional society during SLEEP 2025, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, held in Seattle. During her one-year term, Shelgikar will lead the organization of 9,500 members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. She will help AASM achieve strategic goals related to public awareness, technology integration, practice success and advocacy to improve patient outcomes. “Leading the AASM during this transformative period, I am committed to fostering innovation, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration and advocating for research that will redefine patient care in sleep medicine,” said Shelgikar. As a longstanding member of the AASM, Shelgikar has served on several committees such as the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Directors Council Steering Committee, Fellowship Models Exploratory Committee, Education Committee, and the Innovative Fellowship Model Implementation Presidential Committee. She was elected to the board of directors in 2018, served as secretary/treasurer and recently completed a three-year term as president of the AASM Foundation board of directors. “There are millions of individuals who are impacted by sleep disorders and millions more who struggle to get the healthy sleep they need,” said Shelgikar. “I am proud to lead the AASM in the ongoing effort to advance sleep medicine research and sleep disorders treatment to improve quality of life for our patients.” 

Viemed authorizes share repurchase program 

LAFAYETTE, La. – Viemed Healthcare’s board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program, effective through June 2026. Under the share repurchase program, Viemed may purchase up to 1,976,441 common shares of the company from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws, representing approximately 5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares as of March 31, 2025. “Our recent first quarter 2025 results and the increases in our 2025 guidance range midpoints demonstrate that we are executing well with strong underlying fundamentals in the business,” said Casey Hoyt, CEO. “We have a track record of disciplined capital allocation, with our latest example being the attractive acquisition of Lehan’s Medical that is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. Since our public listing, we have repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares, underscoring our commitment to executing on our capital allocation strategies. With no net debt and full availability on our $55 million credit facility, we have ample liquidity to improve shareholder value with a new share repurchase program while also funding our organic and inorganic growth initiatives.” Viemed intends to repurchase common shares through open market purchases, block purchases or otherwise in accordance with applicable securities laws. Subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, daily purchases will be limited to 25% of the average daily volume for the four calendar weeks preceding the date of purchase. 

Registration open for NCPA convention 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Registration is open for the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2025 Annual Convention and Pre-Convention Growth and Profitability Programs. The convention is set for Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans and the pre-convention events for Oct. 16-17. “NCPA’s annual convention is where leaders in independent pharmacy go each year for the latest ways to build their businesses, to share what has worked for them, and to build or strengthen relationships with others in the industry,” says 2024-2025 NCPA President Jeff Harrell, PharmD. “It is designed to help attendees get ahead and chart a winning path forward. I can’t wait to see everyone in New Orleans for what’s sure to be a great event.” To learn about and register for NCPA’s 2025 Annual Convention, click here. To learn about and register for the pre-convention programming, click here. More information will be released as it becomes available. Pharmacists should sign up for the convention by July 19 to receive up to $100 off with NCPA’s early bird rate.